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3 elements: The Vine, the branches, and the fruit. Jesus has just warned His followers that He is leaving, but that He will send His Spirit in His place. He will be up in heaven, but will send down a life line, a way to remain connected. The Vine!

... Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

When these grapes are squeezed, it is blood that comes out.

"Battle Hymn" says He treads the grapes of wrath.

Present vine = the Great I AM! The TRUE Vine.

As believers, we are invited to abide in Him, the true vine. Unbelievers attach themselves to the vine of this earth, choosing to connect themselves to temporal things which do not satisfy and take you nowhere but down. But we find all we need in Jesus, the True Vine! It's a living relationship, a loving relationship, and a lasting relationship!

B. The Branches.

v. 5 If you are saved, then you are a branch. And you should be attached to the Vine. Evidently it is possible to be saved and to detach from the Vine, or else we wouldn't have the command to 'abide' in the Vine, and remain connected.

And a branch is worth next to nothing unless it is attached to the vine. It can detach, and still be a branch, but a dead one, and relatively useless.

ill.--the Kuna Indians could use branches to build huts, but they weren't valuable, burned down often [volatile], and certainly could no longer bear fruit.

The world can use you if you detach from Christ, but don't be fooled into thinking you have any real value, or will produce anything truly good. Rather, you are a volatile, detrimental testimony.